GAO Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics Team: Initial Plan and Considerations Moving ForwardThe 2019 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill Conference Report encouraged GAO to
reorganize its technology and science function by creating a new office within GAO and
to report to the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittees on plans for doing so.
In January 2019, we created the Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics
(STAA) team to build on our decades-long track record of providing Congress with
science and technology (S&T) analysis.To help ensure Members of Congress and congressional staff continue to have access
to independent, nonpartisan analysis of high-impact technological and scientific topics
affecting society, security, and U.S. competitiveness, the STAA team will focus on four
key areas:
* technology assessments and providing technical assistance for Members of
Congress and staff;
* evaluation of S&T programs within the federal government;
* best practices guides in the engineering sciences, including cost, schedule and
technology readiness assessments; and
* an innovation lab to explore, pilot, and deploy new advanced analytic capabilities
and emerging technologies.United States Government Accountability OfficeGAO_c090eb6a-92df-11df-b499-6b157a64ea2aCongressServing Congress --
Science, technology, and information technology (IT) issues have figured prominently in
the assistance we have provided to Congress via reports and other written products,
direct technical assistance, and numerous testimonies. Our experts and products
provide independent, nonpartisan analysis of complex S&T issues in direct service of
Members of Congress and congressional staff. In fiscal year 2018 alone, we provided 34
congressional committees with nearly 200 products—including technology
assessments (TA)—covering a wide range of science, technology, and IT issues,
including cybersecurity. Members of Congress and congressional staff continue to have access to independent, nonpartisan analysis of high-impact technological and scientific topics affecting society, security, and U.S. competitiveness._f2a43ad2-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818fTo reorganize our technology and science function_f2a43bd6-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818fAssessment & AssistanceProvide Technology Assessment and Technical Assistance. _f2a43c62-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818f1Scientists and engineers with
expertise across a range of fields will staff this group. Prior to the reorganization, this
group:
* issued one to three major technology assessments plus one to three science and
technology-focused audits per year;
* through scientific research, advice, and written materials, supported more than
100 reports annually covering federal programs with a science or technology
component;
* provided on-demand technical assistance to individual Members, committees,
and subcommittees on S&T topics.
Ongoing and planned technology assessments in fiscal year 2019 include applications of
artificial intelligence in health care, freshwater technologies in agriculture, and 5G
wireless communications systems. Based on interest expressed by various committees
of jurisdiction, potential future work could focus on digital ledger technologies such as
blockchain, opioid-addiction vaccine development, autonomous vehicles, and
regenerative medicine, among many others.
In addition, this group is exploring new product formats to complement current ones in
order to meet the needs of Members of Congress and congressional staff. New products
are likely to include one- or two-page briefs highlighting key findings of recently issued
reports or explaining the basics of timely S&T topics; potential questions for upcoming
hearings based on our prior work; or shorter, more narrowly-focused technology
assessments. AIAssess applications of artificial intelligence in health care._f2a43ce4-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818f1.1FreshwaterAssess freshwater technologies in agriculture._f2a43d7a-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818f1.25G WirelessAssess 5G wireless communications systems._f2a43e06-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818f1.3Digital LedgersFocus on digital ledger technologies such as blockchain._f2a43e88-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818f1.4Opioid-Addiction VaccineAssess opioid-addiction vaccine development._f2a43f1e-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818f1.5Autonomous VehiclesAssess autonomous vehicles._f2a43faa-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818f1.6Regenerative MedicineAssess regenerative medicine._f2a4402c-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818f1.7Document FormatsExplore new product formats to meet the needs of Members of Congress and congressional staff._f2a440ea-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818f1.8New products are likely to include one- or two-page briefs highlighting key findings of recently issued reports or explaining the basics of timely S&T topics; potential questions for upcoming hearings based on our prior work; or shorter, more narrowly-focused technology assessments. OversightProvide S&T Program Oversight._f2a44176-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818f2Policy analysts with experience in auditing a wide range of science and technology-related federal programs staff this group. Prior to the reorganization, this group:
* issued nine or more S&T-related performance audits per year, on topics such as federally funded research and development programs, efforts to transfer federally funded research to the commercial sector, protection and management of intellectual property, and programs to promote innovation and technological
advancement;
* provided on-demand technical assistance to individual Members, committees,
and subcommittees on these topics;
* partnered with the Technology Assessment and Technical Assistance group on
technology assessments; and
* provided support to other GAO mission teams on cross-cutting S&T issues._f2a44202-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818fEngineering SciencesAssess the extent to which agency cost estimates and master schedules adhere to the best practices._f2a44298-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818f3Operations research analysts with expertise in cost estimating,
schedule analysis, and technology readiness assessments staff this group. These staff
assess the extent to which agency cost estimates and master schedules adhere to the
best practices published in GAO's Cost Estimating and Schedule Assessment Guides.Technology ReadinessDetermine the quality of agency technology readiness assessments._f2a4432e-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818f3.1They also determine the quality of agency technology readiness assessments using GAO’s Technology Readiness Assessment Guide.5 A technology readiness assessment
(TRA) is a systematic, evidence-based process that evaluates the maturity of hardware
and software technologies critical to the performance of a larger system or the fulfillment
of the key objectives of an acquisition program. The Technology Readiness Assessment
Guide has been used to assess the Columbia class ballistic missile submarine and is
currently being used in our upcoming 2019 review of major NASA projects.Agile AssessmentDevelop an Agile Assessment Guide._f2a443ba-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818f3.2This group is also in the process of jointly developing an Agile Assessment Guide with
the ITC team that will provide criteria for audits and guidance to agencies regarding
Agile adoption, contracting for Agile projects, and using program controls to help
manage Agile projects.Complex AcquisitionsExpand and accelerate our work to include technology readiness assessments of complex acquisitions._f2a44464-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818f3.3Future efforts would expand and accelerate our work to potentially include technology
readiness assessments of complex acquisitions such as nuclear modernization
programs, the Army’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle program, DHS border protection
technologies, and the Uranium Processing Facility.Innovation LabEstablish an Innovation Lab._f2a444fa-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818f4Data scientists, statisticians, and operations researchers will staff the
Innovation Lab, a new initiative. The lab's staff will leverage people, data, technology,
and new processes to explore and pilot new advanced analytic capabilities, emerging
technologies, and innovative audit practices. They will also partner with other GAO
teams to develop new, data-based audit methods and frameworks that allow the use of
new data analytics capabilities in audits. Specifically, the Lab will focus on developing
capabilities in four key areas:Advanced AnalyticsUse analytical methods, skills, and capabilities to discover and visualize patterns and trends in structured, unstructured, and disparate data sets to efficiently and effectively produce insights not possible or feasible through conventional methods alone._f2a4459a-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818f4.1Data SciencePursue technical enhancements for the preparation, processing, and
storage of large and/or heterogeneous datasets._f2a4464e-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818f4.2Achieving such integration will allow us to conduct more complex analysis and better assess relationships among data elements.Analysis & RelationshipsConduct more complex analysis and better assess relationships among data elements._f2a446ee-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818f4.2.1Information AssuranceConduct information assurance research. _f2a4478e-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818f4.3The development of enhanced technical
expertise in information and system security, including cryptography,
techniques for auditing cloud-based IT systems and cyber-physical systems
(e.g., Internet of Things and “smart” devices), and standards based on
established NIST, DHS, or DOD frameworks.Emerging TechnologiesMonitor new and emerging technologies relevant to financial auditing, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and new computational techniques._f2a44842-6d53-11e9-ac22-a469ac9d818f4.42019-04-10https://www.gao.gov/pdfs/about/GAOScienceTechPlan-2019-04-10.pdf?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=watchblogOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net